Archive By Section - Letters

So where do we go from here? How much are we willing to spend without the help of a third party to improve our city and county? Can we afford to maintain what we build? What kind of recreational/tourism improvements will make a lasting impact on all of the citizens not just one group?

On Jan. 29, 2012, James R. Cothran, of Atlanta, died after a short illness. For many people, the garden is the perfection of man's beauty on earth. Nowhere is this more evident than in the South, where creating beautiful spaces is a time-honored tradition. James "Jim" Robert Cothran shared and exemplified this passion. This renowned landscape architect, horticulturalist, urban planner, garden historian, historic preservationist, author, educator, civic leader, businessman and mentor contributed significantly to preserving the beauty of the Southern landscape. A graduate of Clemson, with Master's degrees from the UGA and Georgia Tech, Jim served 42 years ...

I am very appalled; I thought that with our economy in the condition it is in now, how can the people of Camden and surrounding areas be so set on having a Y, to bring in visitors, friends and whatever else they can think of. In my opinion, this is pure greed. I have no intentions of leaving anyone out; this includes all proprietors, lawyers and Indian chiefs and let's don't forget the mayor and his committee and all the rich. It's too bad the economy hasn't hit you all yet but don't worry, it ...

Recently, Camden lost a wonderful lady. Alanna C. Shepherd passed away at KershawHealth hospital. My grandmother suffered a massive stroke and after some time spent in the ICU, she was then sent to the Hospice floor. The care that she received was incredible. Everyone treated "Nana" so nicely. They treated her with dignity and respect. Robin, who came in the room to make Nana more comfortable, was so, so sweet to her. She talked to her the entire time she was in the room. Jim and Cathy were angels to my family and Nana. They both truly display a caring ...

County Councilman Stephen Smoak is to be commended for his comments, on recreation facilities, at the Jan. 24th council meeting. Based on what he and the chairman of council said, I believe Councilman Smoak understands both the recreational and economic needs of the community. I believe that the members of the County Council Recreation Committee will also support a cooperative effort with the City of Camden to provide new and improved recreation facilities.

I enjoyed reading Tom Didato's article on the late Penn State coach, Joe Paterno. When we met with him on a warm August morning in 2008 I was impressed by his genuine interest in Henry DuRant and myself and the compliments he had for Steve Spurrier. I also learned that PSU and South Carolina administrators had collaborated on the lettermen's lounges at both schools' stadiums and had a very cordial relationship. He greeted Paul Hrabovsky with the type of warmth a father greets a son.

Over 1,000 Camden residents signed the recent petition asking the City to stop this Y project and let the people be involved in the decision that would obligate our Hospitality Tax dollars for the next 20 years.

It is indeed unfortunate if the City has lost the opportunity to get free money to fund the proposed sports complex. Rather than point a finger of blame at citizens who have wanted nothing more than open debate, questions answered, and dialogue for months and months concerning this sports complex, let's get to the heart of this problem. How could the City allow not just a reported loss of an ill described funding source slip away, but how has the City lost control of the leadership of Camden they were elected to represent?

My husband and I moved to Camden eight years ago after falling in love with the many charms that this town has to offer. The history, parks and many cultural activities, coupled with small town ambiance and friendly people, convinced us that Camden would be the perfect community for us to settle and start our family. We now have a 4-year old daughter that we regularly take to local parks, Historic Camden, the Kershaw County Farmers Market, and many of the incredible offerings of the Kershaw County Library and Fine Arts Center. While these are undeniably awesome resources, we yearn ...

Recently I was blessed to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the beautiful ground of our National Mall. McKissack and McKissack's Lisa Anders, the senior project manager for the Memorial construction, gave a background on elements of the memorial. Ms. Anders had overall responsibility for management of the contraction. She said the $121 million memorial used varied treatment and textures of water and stone in creating a sense of the diversity of the civil rights movements. It was a singular distinction for an African-American woman.

The proposed Camden Sports Complex has become a matter of considerable debate within the Camden community. Sides have been taken, strategies employed, and divisive positions adopted that have resulted in a contentious atmosphere in our community. The Camden Referendum Recreation Coalition (CRRC) and the Camden For the Y organization are agreeing to disagree on some issues. However, we agree on many more, as we recognize we share a common cause.

Two and a half years ago my husband and I decided that it was time to plant roots closer to family. I grew up in a military family bouncing from place to place about every four years so picking the right time to move with minimal emotional repercussions for our daughter was important to us. Growing up, I tried to understand that my parents were making major sacrifices for our country and respected that. With that said, as a kid it always came down to the fact that it took a lot of effort to pick up and make new ...

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify the issue of the wording of the current petition on the proposed Camden Sports Complex. It has been suggested that the language seems to be in conflict with the cause of the Camden Recreation Referendum Coalition (CRRC) to let the voice of the people be heard. The driving force behind the CRRC was, is, and always will be the referendum, and the right for citizens to participate in government. However, in order to get to the point of a referendum, the State Code (and City Council) mandates that the format of the petition ...